TM 6-1: What is You-Attitude?
You-Attitude is a style of writing
that
 Looks at things from the
reader’s point of view.
 Respects the reader’s
intelligence.
 Protects the reader’s ego.

Emphasizes what the
reader wants to know.
TM 6-2: Creating You-Attitude
To create you-attitude, writers
should
 Talk about the reader, not
themselves.
 Not talk about feelings,
except to congratulate or
offer sympathy.
 Use you more often than I in
positive situations. Use we
when it includes the reader.
 Avoid “you” in negative
situations.
TM 6-3: Creating You-Attitude
Lacks You-Attitude
You-Attitude
1. I have worked hard to get
you the best contract
settlement possible.
1. Under the new contract,
you’ll receive dental
insurance.
2. You will be happy to
learn that the School of
Management offers four
different majors.
2. In the School of
Management, you can major
in accounting, management,
industrial management, and
economics.
3. Send us a copy of the
signed delivery receipt.
3. To get credit for the books
you returned, just send us a
copy of the delivery receipt
signed by a Long’s
employee.
4. We are shipping your
order of September 14
today.
4. The 500 road signs you
ordered will be shipped
today and should reach you
by October 20.
5. You forgot to consider
5. The estimate makes no
inflation in your estimate.
allowance for inflation. This
factor must be included to
achieve a reliable figure.
TM 6-4: Situations that Change You-Attitude
In a positive situation

Focus on what the reader can do.
“We give you” lacks youattitude because the sentence
focuses on what we are doing.
Avoid you

When it criticizes the reader or
limits the reader’s freedom.
In a job application letter

Create you-attitude by showing
how you can help meet the
reader’s needs, but keep the word
you to a minimum.
TM 6-5:
Creating Goodwill Beyond the Sentence
Level
To create goodwill with content
 Be complete.
 Anticipate and answer questions the
reader is likely to have.
 Show why information the reader didn’t
ask for is important.
 Show readers how the subject of your
message affects them.
To create goodwill with organization
 Put information readers are most
interested in first.
 Arrange information to meet your
reader’s needs, not yours.
 Use headings and lists so that the reader
can find key points quickly.
TM 6-6: A Poor Example of You-Attitude
December 11, 2004
Ms. Carol McFarland
Rollins Equipment Corporation
1307 Paquette Street
Sudbury, ON P3A 5R7
Dear Ms. McFarland:
We are now ready to issue a check to Rollins Equipment in the
amount of $14,207.02. Upon our release of said cheque, you will
deliver to me releases of mechanic’s liens in the amounts of
$14,207.02 and $13,155.27.
Before we can release the cheque, we must be satisfied that the
releases are in proper form. We must insist that we be provided
with a stamped original of the lien indicating the document number
in the appropriate district court where it is filed. Also, either the
releases must be executed by an officer of Rollins Equipment, or
we must be provided with a letter from an officer of Rollins
Equipment authorizing another individual to execute the release.
Please contact the undersigned so that we can set up an
appointment for this transaction.
Sincerely,
K. J. Pickett
TM 6-7: A Poor Example of You-Attitude
The message has an
unfriendly tone (“we
must insist”).
The message
requires the reader
to do everything.
“We” is used too
often.
The writer uses old-fashioned language
and jargon (“said cheque,” “the
undersigned”).
The writer does not consider the
reader. The message is hard to read
and understand.
TM 6-8: A Better Example of You-Attitude
December 11. 2004
Ms. Carol McFarland
Rollins Equipment Corporation
1307 Parquette Street
Sudbury, ON P3A R57
Dear Ms. McFarland:
Let’s clear up the liens in the Rollins contract.
Rollins will receive a check for $14,207.02 when you give us
releases for mechanic’s liens of $14,207.02 and $13,155.27. To
assure us that the releases are in the proper form,
1. Give us a stamped original of the lien indicating the document’s
district court number, and
2. Either
a. Have the releases signed by an officer of Rollins Equipment or
b. Give us a letter from a Rollins officer authorizing someone else
to sign the release.
Call me to tell me which way is best for you.
Sincerely,
K. J. Pickett
TM 6-9: A Better Example of You-Attitude
The message has an
unfriendly tone (“we must
insist”).
Clear personal references
replace jargon.
Straightforward
directions replace the
convoluted message in
the previous letter.
Choices are clear.
The ending makes it clear who the reader should contact.